Slow the Fast Down: Public Encouraged to Follow the Speed Limit
Rialto, Calif. – A new statewide initiative encourages drivers to “slow the fast down” and understand the dangers of speeding. The Rialto Police Department supports efforts by the California Office of Traffic Safety to address this emerging traffic safety issue; speeding. On Friday, February 12th between 4:00 p.m. and midnight, the Rialto Police Department, in conjunction with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Fontana PD, will conduct a multi-jurisdictional operation by saturating the streets of Rialto looking for drivers and motorcycle riders who are speeding and/or participating in Illegal Street racing activities.
“In the last several months we have seen a disturbing increase in both illegal street racing and the dangerously high speeds being driven by daily commuters on our roadways.” Rialto Police Chief Mark Kling said. “When excessive speed is applied to a collision, it is an irrefutable fact that the faster the vehicle is traveling at the point of impact, the greater the chance that one, or all, of the occupants involved will sustain life threatening injuries.”
Excessive speeding went way up during the beginning of stay-at-home orders in March. Between March 19 and April 30, CHP officers issued 4,000 citations for speeding over 100 miles per hour, more than double (113%) from last year despite a steep decline in traffic volume.
“All of our roadways have speed limits that have been set for the safety of all commuters”, Chief Kling said. “Please be responsible and drive within those limits”.
Speeding remains one of the main causes of crashes: in federal fiscal year 2017-18, speed was a factor in approximately 31% of all fatal and injury crashes in California.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Contact: Officer Amanda Deleon
(909) 440-4071
[email protected]
